📝 Match Preview: Forest Green Rovers v City

A look ahead to Saturday's match at the New Lawn

3 May 2019

Exeter City complete their 2018/19 Sky Bet League Two fixture list when they travel to the New Lawn to take on Forest Green Rovers.

The Grecians are still within a chance of qualifying for the end of season play-offs but will need to rely on Newport County slipping up away from home at Morecambe if they are to secure a place in the top seven.

Ahead of the match, manager Matt Taylor said: “We know what we've got to do and hope results elsewhere go our way. We've have got to give ourselves the opportunity to win the game. Generally our form away from home has been pretty decent of late, so we go to it confident."

LAST TIME WE MET

The sides last met at St James Park back in October 2018 when Mark Cooper’s side managed to take away a 2-1 win from Devon.

Reece Brown netted Rovers’ opener on 50 minutes with a well taken effort before the match was put beyond City when Liam Shepard fired in on 72 minutes.

The Grecians then pulled a goal back when a clearance from Aaron Martin was misjudged by Robert Sanchez in the Forest Green goal as the ball slipped under his foot and ended up in the back of the net.

TICKET NEWS

We can confirm that City’s allocation for the trip to the New Lawn has been sold out already and we would like to thank fans for their support.

GRECIAN TRAVEL

The supporters’ coach will depart from Unit 1 nightclub at 10.30am for a fare of £20.

The easiest way to buy is online, or on your mobile using the clubs ticketing system.

For more information or to book please contact Chris Woolcott on 01392 250250 or John Bishop on 07904036334 or by email at: john.bishop760@btinternet.com (after 6pm).

Alternatively, drop into reception at St James Park to book.

BY ROAD

If you’re travelling to the match by road then you need to follow the M5 north to Gloucestershire. Exit the motorway at junction 13 onto the A419 towards Stroud.

Go straight over three roundabouts and, after joining the A46, follow signs to Bath and Nailsworth.

When you get to Nailsworth town centre, turn right at the mini roundabout into Spring Hill. Go over one roundabout and then turn left at the second roundabout into The New Lawn.

Parking is available at the neighbouring school, within easy walking distance (90m) from the stadium, at £5 per vehicle the club accepts cash and card, but spaces are limited, and it is a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you choose to park in the local residential area, please park with consideration for neighbours and adhere to local parking enforcement. Please be aware that parking enforcement officers patrol the area on a match day.

Parking at the stadium is reserved for pre-booked guests only (hospitality and Blue Badge holders.)

BY RAIL

The nearest train station to the stadium is in Stroud, which means you need to take a bus from Stroud to get to Nailsworth. From Exeter St David’s you can take the 10:15 train to Stroud, with one change at Swindon, which gets you there for 12:43. With a 30-minute bus journey on the number 63 from Merrywalks shopping centre you should arrive at the stadium in good time for the game. You can then catch the 18:32 train from Stroud back to Exeter which should arrive for 21:34.

PUBS/FOOD

Forest Green Rovers are the world’s first vegan football club, and they offer vegan dishes like Mexican fajitas, veggie burgers, or homemade soup of the day. The club also offer locally-sourced vegan beers and wine. According to footballgroundguide.com, there are pubs and food outlets at the bottom of the hill in Nailsworth, which is about a 15-minute walk, such as the Britannia on New Market Road. Alternatively, a five-minute drive (or two and a half miles) away from the ground in Nympsfield Village is the Rose Crown which serves real ale and food too.

2019/20 Season tickets on sale now!

Season Tickets for the 2019/20 campaign on sale and offer great value savings on admission to St James Park, for all ages.

Adults can watch the Grecians for as little as £15 a match in the Thatchers Big Bank, a saving of £3 per-match on gate prices. Under-18s can watch the Grecians for as little as £4 a match with under-12s priced at just £3 per match. Click here to find out more!

📝 Forest Green Rovers 0 City 0

Exeter City were unable to seal a place in this season’s Sky Bet League Two play-offs despite a 0-0 draw with Forest Green Rovers.

Despite Newport County only being able to collect a point at Morecambe, the Grecians just needed that all-important goal but it didn’t arrive despite a number of chances throughout the match.

Manager Matt Taylor made one change to the side that started the win over Oldham Athletic last time out with Nicky Law missing out through injury and he was therefore replaced by Hiram Boateng in the City midfield.

Ryan Bowman had City’s first attempt on nine minutes when a deep ball in from Craig Woodman found the striker before he chested well and fired at James Montgomery in the Rovers goal.

The Grecians worked a wonderful opening on 25 minutes when Bowman did well to turn and get in behind the Forest Green defence before crossing for Lee Holmes, but his left footed effort went just over from inside the box.

Bowman was back in the thick of it just moments later as the home side conceded possession on the edge of their own area, and with Montgomery out of his goal, the forward’s effort edged just wide of goal.

As City continued to press to go ahead Lee Martin whipped in a fantastic cross on the half hour mark, and despite Bowman connecting well, he crashed an effort against the post.

Boateng would have another chance for the Grecians on the cusp of half-time when Martin again crossed from the left, and despite connecting well, his volley edged just wide as the sides went into the break level.

It was much of the same just a few minutes after the break as Pierce Sweeney fed Holmes, who then laid it off to Lee Martin, but he was unable to keep his effort down.

Udoka Godwin-Malife was the first Rovers player to worry Christy Pym when he received the ball on the edge of the City box on 57 minutes, but his low effort nestled wide of goal.

The home side then worked a good opening 20 minutes from time when some well-worked play enabled Nathan McGinley to get in down the left before his low shot found Shawn McCoulsky, but his effort went wide of goal.

Boateng then created another chance for City as he darted down the left before causing havoc with a dangerous cross. Despite Montgomery punching he was unable to get a clean connection before Holmes’ shot was blocked leaving the Rovers keeper to jump on the ball.

As the game went into injury time the Grecians continued to press to find the all-important goal with other results going their way. A Montgomery spill after coming for a cross almost gave the Grecians the chance to fire in but the keeper managed to atone for his error as it was confirmed that City would remain in Sky Bet League Two.